Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday told members of the Lower Chamber that the days of ‘free money’ were gone.

Reading the riot act on how he would run the House, he declared that he would separate allowances of members from monies meant to run committee activities.

With this action, the salaries and allowances for the Representatives would be cut by 40 per cent.

The Speaker maintained that the House would be more transparent regarding all public funds spent for the purpose of paying the salaries and allowances of legislators and assure that distinction is sufficently made between what a legislator actually earns and what is spent to run and implement legislative business and committee activities.

Under running costs, salaries and allowances of members, Tambuwal explained that the seventh session of the House “recognises the concerns raised by Nigerians about the jumbo pay of lawmakers. The watchword in financial issues will be fiscal conservatism”

Former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, ran a ‘collapse system’, merging all monies meant for the running of the House with the running of committee activities, leading to jumbo pay for the lawmakers.

But Tambuwal stated that all monies meant for specifics would be used for that purpose and Nigerians would be given opportunity to know what the House members were earning as salaries and what they earn as allowances.

He assured that the promotion of a viable and robust national economy would form the focus of the House as it works to support the emergence of a strong economy.

He said: “The seventh session of the House of Representatives will put in place legislative measures to achieve the best development outcome from government spending, including promotion of economic growth and social welfare.

“The thrust of the national budget should be effective prioritisation of spending on programmes within the national budget ensuring that adequate resources are available for spending on priority capital projects adoption of an effective Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and also effective monitoring of spending and of outcomes achieved-value for money”.

The Speaker maintained that the House would emphasise compliance with the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, including requirements that the executive shall seek input from the National Assembly in the preparation of MTEF.

He said: “MTEF shall be the basis for the preparation of the estimates of the annual national budget laid before the National Assembly, the executive shall at least 30 days before the deadline of the submission of its budget proposals place at the disposal of the National Assembly, including the net current revenue and the respective memorandum”.

While confirming the reduction in the allowances of members, it was revealed that at the executive session, the leadership resolved to yield to public outcry by reducing the salaries and allowances of the members by 40 per cent.

Peter Akpatason, representing Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, Edo State, confirmed that the salaries and allowances of the members of the House do not reflect the jumbo pay.

Akpatason, a former President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), said “I’m not aware of any leakages but all I know is that we have just started. We are aware that the budget has been cut down by 40 per cent. What is responsible for that, I don’t know. But I’m aware that there is public outcry about the quantum of monies received by our predecessors. We have actually seen the breakdown for our own dispensation and one will rather think that certain elements are inadequate. I don’t see what people called bumper pay in what we have been offered here today. But, I don’t have access to what the breakdown of what our predecessors were paid, that is the situation.”


http://www.compassnewspaper.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9117:tambuwal-cuts-reps-pay-by-40&catid=308:headlines&Itemid=600

With the National Assembly quarters in Abuja retained by their outgoing counterparts, the 343 new lawmakers at the National Assembly are to draw between N3 million and N5 million for new houses as they resume work this week.

The Assembly leaders said the amount is to cover annual rental cost for new accommodation for each legislator, after a controversial government monetisation policy transferred titles for the Abuja Apo legislative quarters to former lawmakers who were not reelected.

The ownership rule has drawn the condemnation of some legislators as they face a raft of uncertainties, as the Senate and the House of Representatives resume legislative duties. Each new Senator is receiving N5 million for a new place in the federal capital territory after an initial demand for N7 million (and an upward rental fee for three years) were reportedly rejected by the senate leadership.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5722940-146/new_lawmakers_to_receive_one_billion.csp

But yet they receive kickbacks like N1billion for accommodation each. 1 step forward, 100 steps back. Who are we fooling here? The collapse of Bankole's tenure he is talking about, who benefited most from it? Tambuwal. He can never cleanse himself of that saga.

cant u see dat its between 3m and 5m for 3 to 4 years house rental fee for senators and rep members.U copied a link only for u to fail to read thorougly,pls u guys shld start criticise constructively

These Politrick-cians have mastered the "Art of looting"!
Look at this Tambuwal, who is he fooling? What kind of wool is he trying to pull over our eyes with his "40% pay-cut media hype?

As the rate at which every politician goes away with the house they use when in office, two hings will happen soon:

1.) GEJ will have to 'retain" Aso-Rock and we have to build a new one for the incoming President, every time we elect a new one!

2.) If we add the number of Reps and Senators together and at the rate they are all going away with the houses the "Tax payers" paid for, there would be no more land to build in Abuja in a few years time, The Assembly Rogues would have all "retained" the houses, just as Tax payers money is used to build new ones!

Truly, there is no other definition for "Democracy" that Corruption, as far as Nigerian Politicians are concerned! Fecking Thieves!

"They will "retain car", retain House, Retain just about anything they can lay hands on?
When did Nigerians approve this bogus retention laws?

Is it really a cut? or the allowance is being giving a new name?

Are they trying to pre-empt FOI requests?

As if this Tombowar was not there as dep. whip when Bankthief was speaker. Maybe he was weeping then, and now is d time to yarn opata.

Is it really so that the NA pay is so elastic that you can take 40% out of it without making it unbearable?

Tambuwal stop deceiving your self, just chop ur own and go abeg, with the exception of Masari, you were not holier than Bankole, Patricia Etteh, Umar na' Abba, Salisu Buhari wen they assumed office, yet we know how they ran the office of the speaker.

Boko Haram guys are watching. Since they could hit Police Hqts

[b][/b]ALL WHAT TAMBUWAL IS DOING IS GIMMIKKS, STOP DECIEVEING US JARE,

Dont be deceived by this senseless politicians uterances. He is just trying to appease Boko Haram.

we need the figure.

Government magic

Under running costs, salaries and allowances of members, Tambuwal explained that the seventh session of the House “recognises the concerns raised by Nigerians about the jumbo pay of lawmakers. The watchword in financial issues will be fiscal conservatism”

Former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, ran a ‘collapse system’, merging all monies meant for the running of the House with the running of committee activities, leading to jumbo pay for the lawmakers.

hahahahaha!!! This action by Tambuwal may have provided the cover which Bankole needs to turn the case EFCC currently has against him into a 'Separation of Powers' issue and made it very easy for a judge who eventually sets Bankole free a way out. You see, the judge will simply rule that the loans otained by Bankole was to cover 'running costs' of the House of Reps and as such RMAFC or any other body has no authority to dictate how the house finances its running costs.

Basically, Tambuwal can also obtain a loan, and distribute it to members to run commitees and for other 'legitimate' house activities. We all know where most of such funds end up.

Thieving representatives.

cut NA pay by 40%?, they must be watched closely now otherwise they will loot more than their predecessors via terrible allowances and bonuses. where is efcc?

where is efcc?

DEAD!

anyone who believes this thief is delusional

If Tambowal says he's cutting the allowances, just believe he's cutting it but the drama that Nigerians should expect now is that of inflated contract prices etc cos that's where they will recover their presumed losses. Their oversight functions won't be as effective as before, expect bribery and corruption of the highest order. I pray i'm wrong though cos i love my country

Fear of boko is the beginning of . . .

Logba:

Dont be deceived by this senseless politicians uterances. He is just trying to appease Boko Haram.

But seriously, why are we so negative?

What if his intentions are genuine. . . ?

What if. . . ?

Deep soul,

We are too gullible in this part of the world. We seem to trust anything that comes our way.

God help us.

@ Deep soul,
Genuine my foot. The man is just reclassifying the money. It's not as if he said d money wil not be collected, it s only d mode of collecting it dat wil change.
The annoying thing is dat these politicians always take us for fool. Wish d st.upid boko haram pple wil just bomb Apo quarters. Ao can dey retain houses built with govt money. Just like someone here said, one president, if not GEJ, wil one day retain Aso Rock.

Please give us another gist.

Imma be keeping tabs on this.

And they still collect about a trillion naira! For doing nothing! A legislator's pay should not be more than 500,000 per sitting to cover expenses and aides. Otherwise it cannot be called service at all but stealing. And its only an inducement for the wrong type of people to enter the NASS.

Good news

thief ole and more lies

40% reduction is nothing cosidering their annual pay.

These Politrick-cians have mastered the "Art of looting"!
Look at this Tambuwal, who is he fooling? What kind of wool is he trying to pull over our eyes with his "40% pay-cut media hype?

As the rate at which every politician goes away with the house they use when in office, two hings will happen soon:

1.) GEJ will have to 'retain" Aso-Rock and we have to build a new one for the incoming President, every time we elect a new one!

2.) If we add the number of Reps and Senators together and at the rate they are all going away with the houses the "Tax payers" paid for, there would be no more land to build in Abuja in a few years time, The Assembly Rogues would have all "retained" the houses, just as Tax payers money is used to build new ones!

Truly, there is no other definition for "Democracy" that Corruption, as far as Nigerian Politicians are concerned! Fecking Thieves!

"They will "retain car", retain House, Retain just about anything they can lay hands on?
When did Nigerians approve this bogus retention laws?

My bro, you've said it all. someone serves his nation as an elected official for four years and he retains his house in staff quarters. Is that sustainable? After all the housing and other jumbo allowances they would have gotten o. Bloody crap.

is it tambowarl that dictates the amount that house of thief members earn, that theif is just making a political statement, their pays will not reduce, if anything, it will increase
mark my word

I still do not believe Tambuwal